Chhattisgarh Establishes Uniform Civil Code Drafting Committee Headed by Justice Ranjana Desai

Event Overview & Core Data

The Chhattisgarh government has formally established a five-member committee tasked with drafting a state-level Uniform Civil Code (UCC) bill. This crucial panel is chaired by former Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, who previously led a similar initiative in Uttarakhand. The committee's other members include Shatrughna Singh, MK Raut, Mohan Pawar, and Jyoti Rani Singh. Their primary mandate involves evaluating existing personal laws and formulating a legislative bill to replace diverse religious customs and practices with a unified set of laws governing matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption. This development signifies a tangible move towards the implementation of Article 44 of the Indian Constitution within Chhattisgarh's socio-legal landscape, marking a shift from administrative contemplation to concrete legislative preparation.

Background & Institutional Context

The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is a proposed legal framework in India that would replace the personal laws based on the scriptures and customs of various religious communities with a common set of laws applicable to all citizens. Article 44, enshrined in Part IV of the Indian Constitution as a Directive Principle of State Policy, mandates that "The State shall endeavor to secure for the citizens a Uniform Civil Code throughout the territory of India." While not justiciable, these principles are fundamental in the governance of the country. Currently, India operates under a system of diverse personal laws, such as the Hindu Marriage Act, the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, and the Indian Christian Marriage Act. Goa remains the only Indian state with a UCC, inherited from the Portuguese Civil Code of 1867. The recent initiatives by states like Uttarakhand and now Chhattisgarh to form UCC drafting committees reflect evolving interpretations of Article 44 and a proactive approach by state governments to address this constitutional directive independently. Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai's experience in chairing Uttarakhand's UCC panel brings valuable judicial expertise and continuity to Chhattisgarh's efforts.

Exam Relevance & Key Concepts

This development holds significant relevance for aspirants of the UPSC Civil Services Examination and State-PSC exams, particularly for General Studies Paper II. Candidates should focus on the following key concepts and their implications:

• Uniform Civil Code (UCC): Understand its constitutional basis (Article 44), historical context, arguments for and against its implementation, and its relationship with secularism, gender justice, and religious freedom.
• Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP): Grasp the nature, enforceability, and distinction of DPSPs from Fundamental Rights, and their role in guiding state policy and law-making.
• Personal Laws: Be familiar with the diversity of personal laws in India and the legal and social challenges associated with their unification.
• Federalism: Analyze the role of state governments in initiating significant legal reforms like the UCC and the potential implications for centre-state relations and legislative autonomy.
• Constitutionalism: Examine how judicial expertise, through figures like Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, influences the legislative process and the interpretation of constitutional directives.
• Social Justice: Evaluate the UCC's potential impact on ensuring equitable rights and social justice, particularly for women across all religious communities.

Aspirants should prepare by studying constitutional debates, landmark judgments related to personal laws, and comparative analysis of legal systems.